LAKELAND, Fla.- The No. 4 Southeastern University baseball team continues to cruise through its non-conference slate. The Fire downed the RV Saint Xavier University Cougars in both games of a Saturday afternoon doubleheader. SEU took game one 14-7 before cementing the sweep with a 5-1 victory in the second contest. Southeastern has now won 22-straight games on the year.
GAME ONE:
After the Cougars plated a run in the top of the first, the Fire responded for eight runs on seven hits in the bottom of the frame. An RBI-double by
Luis Cabrera, a two-run home run by
Pedro Castellano, and a three-run homer by
Sam Faith highlighted the monstrous frame, as SEU took an 8-1 lead over SXU after one. The home run by Castellano was his 10
th of the season, tying the team lead in dingers.
Senior first baseman
Colton Onstott electrified at the plate for the Fire, belting two home runs in the contest, both to right field. First, Onstott delivered a two-run blast in the bottom of the third that put SEU ahead 11-4. Then, the Potter, Nebraska native launched another two-run shot in the bottom of the fifth to give Southeastern a 13-5 advantage over Saint Xavier.
Junior right-handed pitcher
Bryce Mulcahy improved to 5-0 on the season, striking out seven Cougars in five innings of work.
Earning the start at second base in both games due to the injury of
Cristian Martin yesterday, junior infielder
Francisco Soriano was 2-2 at the plate with an RBI and two walks in game one.
GAME TWO:
Senior left-handed pitcher
Ryan Munoz shined in his first start of the season. The Isabela, Puerto Rico native tossed a complete game, allowing just one run and striking out six to improve to 4-0 on the season. Munoz retired the first six Cougars he faced.
The Fire struck first in the bottom of the second, thanks to an RBI-double to right-center off the bat of
Francisco Soriano that brought
Carter Bridge home.
Speaking of losing
Cristian Martin on the field due to injury yesterday, Soriano shared, "It was very tough for us to lose a leader like him (Martin) going into these games, but had to step up and I look forward to continuing to step up to the plate and help this wonderful team."
Max Downs tied things up 1-1 for SXU in the top of the fourth with a solo home run to left-center.
SEU got the answer in the bottom of the frame, when
Carter Bridge singled home
Raymond Gonzalez and put the Fire back on top 2-1.
Southeastern earned some insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth thanks to a pair of homers. First, senior outfielder
Zach Cornell hit a towering opposite field solo-home run over the left field wall. Later in the frame, senior designated hitter
Blake Buckman launched a two-run missile to left-center to put the Fire ahead of the Cougars 5-1.
The Fire are back in action on Tuesday, as they host the University of Saint Francis (Ill.) Fighting Saints. First pitch at Ted A. Broer Stadium is set for 6:30 p.m.
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